Police To Sponsor Marrow Donor Tests

June 10, 1998

MANCHESTER — The police department will sponsor a bone marrow testing drive at the department's community room Friday. The drive is scheduled to run from 3 to 7 p.m.

The purpose of the drive is to test people's blood to determine if it has the same characteristics as someone in need of a bone marrow transplant. If so, the potential donor may be asked to have some marrow extracted.

Police are picking up the cost of the test, during which a small vial of blood is drawn. They are seeking members of minority groups in particular, because there is a high number of minority patients needing bone marrow.

The department sponsored a drive two years ago and 230 potential donors were added to the National Bone Marrow Registry.

The police department is at 239 East Middle Turnpike.

For more information, call Manchester police at (860) 645-5544 or (860) 645-5545, or the New England Marrow Donor Program, (800) 676-4545.